---
title: "Uttara Kanda, Sarga 54"
canonical: "https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana/uttara-kanda/sarga-54"
lang: "en"
---

# Uttara Kanda, Sarga 54

> रामस्य भाषितं श्रुत्वा लक्ष्मणः परमार्थवित्।  
> उवाच प्राञ्जलिर्वाक्यं राघवं दीप्ततेजसम्॥ १॥

Lakṣmaṇa, the knower of truth, on hearing the words of Śrī Rāma, spoke thus to Rāma, a scion of Raghu, glowing with effulgence, with folded hands: (1)

> अल्पापराधे काकुत्स्थ द्विजाभ्यां शाप ईदृशः।  
> महान् नृगस्य राजर्षेर्यमदण्ड इवापरः॥ २॥

“O scion of Kakutstha, a curse so harsh was pronounced by the Brāhmaṇas on Nṛga, the Ṛṣi among kings, for committing a minor fault, as if it was another rod of Yama (for punishment). (2)

> श्रुत्वा तु पापसंयुक्तमात्मानं पुरुषर्षभ।  
> किमुवाच नृगो राजा द्विजौ क्रोधसमन्वितौ॥ ३॥

“On hearing himself proclaimed guilty, O bull among men, what King Nṛga said to the two Brāhmaṇas, full of rage.” (3)

> लक्ष्मणेनैवमुक्तस्तु राघवः पुनरब्रवीत्।  
> शृणु सौम्य यथा पूर्वं स राजा शापविक्षतः॥ ४॥  
> अथाध्वनि गतौ विप्रौ विज्ञाय स नृपस्तदा।  
> आहूय मन्त्रिणः सर्वान् नैगमान् सपुरोधसः॥ ५॥  
> तानुवाच नृगो राजा सर्वाश्च प्रकृतीस्तथा।  
> दुःखेन सुसमाविष्टः श्रूयतां मे समाहिताः॥ ६॥

Thus told by Lakṣmaṇa, the scion of Raghu said: “O courteous one, listen to me, As said the king shattered by the curse after having known from the report that both the Brāhmaṇas were on their way to their abode, the king filled with misery, calling the counsellors together with the priest and also all his subjects, told them: ‘Listen to me with attention. (4—6)

> नारदः पर्वतश्चैव मम दत्त्वा महद्भयम्।  
> गतौ त्रिभुवनं भद्रौ वायुभूतावनिन्दितौ॥ ७॥  
> कुमारोऽयं वसुर्नाम स चेहाद्याभिषिच्यताम्।  
> श्वभ्रं च यत् सुखस्पर्शं क्रियतां शिल्पिभिर्मम॥ ८॥  
> यत्राहं संक्षयिष्यामि शापं ब्राह्मणनिःसृतम्।  
> वर्षघ्नमेकं श्वभ्रं तु हिमघ्नमपरं तथा॥ ९॥

‘The two divine sages, Nārada and Parvata—blessed and free from taint, have departed for the third world (the world of Brahmā,) as if with the wind, after having caused great fear to me. The prince named Vasu be coronated here and now; a pit quite comfortable be dug out by my artisans, where I shall get the curse pronounced by the Brahmaṇas, gone through. May the artisans dig out a pit that shall afford shelter from rain and cold. (7—9)

> ग्रीष्मघ्नं तु सुखस्पर्शमेकं कुर्वन्तु शिल्पिनः।  
> फलवन्तश्च ये वृक्षाः पुष्पवत्यश्च या लताः॥ १०॥  
> विरोप्यन्तां बहुविधाश्छायावन्तश्च गुल्मिनः।  
> क्रियतां रमणीयं च श्वभ्राणां सर्वतोदिशम्॥ ११॥

‘May the artisans create another pit that shall afford shelter during summer. May the trees laden with fruits, and creepers blossoming with flowers, be sown around the pit and also bushes of all kinds. May the pits be made lovely on all sides. (10-11)

> सुखमत्र वसिष्यामि यावत्कालस्य पर्ययः।  
> पुष्पाणि च सुगन्धीनि क्रियन्तां तेषु नित्यशः॥ १२॥  
> परिवार्य यथा मे स्युरध्यर्धं योजनं तथा।  
> एवं कृत्वा विधानं स संनिवेश्य वसुं तदा॥ १३॥  
> धर्मनित्यः प्रजाः पुत्र क्षत्रधर्मेण पालय।  
> प्रत्यक्षं ते तथा शापो द्विजाभ्यां मयि पातितः॥ १४॥  
> नरश्रेष्ठ सरोषाभ्यामपराधेऽपि तादृशे।  
> मा कृथास्त्वनुसंतापं मत्कृते हि नरर्षभ॥ १५॥  
> कृतान्तः कुशलः पुत्र येनास्मि व्यसनीकृतः।  
> प्राप्तव्यान्येव प्राप्नोति गन्तव्यान्येव गच्छति॥ १६॥  
> लब्धव्यान्येव लभते दुःखानि च सुखानि च।  
> पूर्वे जात्यन्तरे वत्स मा विषादं कुरुष्व ह॥ १७॥

“I shall dwell in the pits till the period of curse lasts. May the fragrant flowers be planted, so that they cover one and half Yojanas around me always.” Having ordered thus he (Nṛga) then placing Vasu on the throne said: “O son, abiding always in Dharma (Royal Conduct), protect your subjects according to the law and suzerainty. O best among men, you know how it was in your presence that the curse was pronounced on me by the two Brāhmaṇas in anger, even for a fault so meagre. So, O bull among men, do not repent for me; O son, fate, indeed, is powerful, that has put me in such misery. One attains that only which is pre-ordained to be attainable by him; proceeds only to that place, which is his pre-ordained destination; gains only that which is pre-ordained for him to obtain; similarly, all forms of happiness and sorrows that result from former birth verily, therefore, do not be dejected.” (12—17)

> एवमुक्त्वा नृपस्तत्र सुतं राजा महायशाः।  
> श्वभ्रं जगाम सुकृतं वासाय पुरुषर्षभ॥ १८॥

“Having addressed thus his son, the famous king Nṛga entered to dwell in the well-constructed pit, O bull among men. (18)

> एवं प्रविश्येव नृपस्तदानीं  
> श्वभ्रं महद्रत्नविभूषितं तत्।  
> सम्पादयामास तदा महात्मा  
> शापं द्विजाभ्यां हि रुषा विमुक्तम्॥ १९॥

“Thus, having entered the huge pit, adorned with jewels, the high-souled king did undergo the consequence of the curse pronounced angrily by the two Brāhmaṇas.” (19)

Book: https://ramayana.com/valmiki-ramayana

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